She opted for the stairwell and raced down, pushed out into the lobby. Today’s crowd had remained light, and she spotted the group she’d seen the other day, after Sylvia handed her that knife from the board. She weaved between a couple of older ladies in white sneakers and found Tony at the entrance.
One glance back told her the group, who’d split up to learn what they needed to know, were on their way through the World at War exhibits to the Advanced Scientific Research gallery.
The noise out front of the building was audible even through the glass windows.
Eliana looked up at the domed ceiling above her and the balcony on the second floor. She spotted Sylvia Caughton speaking with a scientist. A couple of young adults searched the bookshelves to the right, one of them running a finger along the glass case that enclosed the volumes. Reading the spines of old books that held decades of secrets.
Something she needed to do more of.
Eliana didn’t want to hide from the dark parts of her family history, even if her parents wanted her to. It was more interesting that the young adults seemed oblivious to what was going on outside.
Tony spotted her and lifted his chin. “Cops are on their way. We should advise anyone in here to either use the side exit, if it’s clear on that wing of the building, or to wait until the police clear the street out front before they leave. Otherwise, it could be dangerous.”
“Copy that.” She peered out the glass of the front doors, looking for a police officer. Fine,herpolice officer. Give or take what she precisely meant. Carlos was family, that was all.
Tony lifted one of their security phones to his mouth and squeezed the side buttons. “Position two, head out the west exit and give me a sit rep out there.”
“Copy that.” Miller was on today, and he worked that side of the building.
“I can stay here and man my post if there’s somewhere else you need to be?” she offered, waving her arm.
He looked out the doors, through the glass etched with their opening hours.
She widened her stance a fraction and folded her arms, just so no one decided to challenge her so they could leave.
Her radio crackled with a report from the side exit, which was apparently clear for now. The crazies out front hadn’t run down the side of that wing of the building.
Eliana turned to look through the doors as well. At least four patrol cars pulled into view, lined up between the protestors and the entrance steps to the museum. But the crowd wasn’t concerned with them, they’d turned on each other.
“It’s bad out there, but the cops will get it under control.” He looked down at her arm. Frowned. Grabbed for her.
“Ouch.”
He turned her arm one way, then the other, his hands grasping tight. “You got into the vault? How’d you do that? They authorized you access?”
“Tony—” She shouldn’t call him that.
He pulled on her arm, dragging her closer to him. “Who gave you access?”
“It’s not from the vault.” She hissed. “This needle mark is from something else.”
“Only one person can access the vault!” His gaze drifted, almost as if he’d lost focus. On her. On anything.
Eliana tugged on her arm, trying to break free. “Let go of me.”
She looked around, trying to ensure they weren’t making a spectacle. Across the lobby, she spotted a woman swing her purse and crack it over the head of an older man. She gasped, about to yell at them, when Tony grabbed her shoulders.
He leaned in. “Only one person goes in the vault, and that’s me!”
“Let go of me!” She hissed the words, trying to whisper, then shoved at his shirt. Pushing him back, away from her. Trying to find someone who could help her. “Tony, let go!”
Someone behind her, across the lobby, screamed in anger.
A loud crash followed, and then the sound of glass shattering on the tile floor.
Tony’s fingers curled hard into her shoulders, gripping her so tightly it was painful. “Only one person!” His eyes were fully glazed now, far too bright. They almost looked shiny. As if he was on something.
She didn’t want to think it, but he sort of looked like he’d taken Elysium.
